Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1887-08-04
Hot Weather Trfckcry.

| way uh aitiui uouSSis A,hS ihuse iSeoS
nize the part that the imagination plays
in daily life, and despite Mr.. Howells,
keep up n strong working faith in the
ideal. Now, if she can so arrange her
house that it looks cool, there isn't
doubt that the end attained will counter
balance whatever deceptive wits or willy
schemes she may employ.
Men and women do not like to imagine
themselves hot. They say they don't like
to be hot But every one feels several
degrees cooler in a cool-looking room
than in a stufiy-looking one of the same
temperature.
Despite the fact, however, that "every-
one has gone out of town." some hum
dreds of thousands of very worthy peo-
pie will remain IL town all summer, and
there is no reason why, with little care
ful management, they cannot have very
comfortable and jolly time of it for the
most part.
First of all, then, if you want to be-
lieve yourself cool, pack away ton or
two of rubbish stuck about your rooms,
and you will be amazed at the difference
in your feelings and the improvement in
ventilation. You won't be giving after
noon teas during the Summer, so there is
no need for all those little tables with
their heterogeneous collections Of bric-a-
brac. Put away everything which is not
necessary for your family's comfort and
your rooms will grow more spacious and
airy DIS you pack.
Cover the floors with mating. 1t feels
delightfully."- cool TO the feet and your car
pets will wear enough longer TO repay you
for the extra cost. Pack the portieres
away from moths and dust, and if you
must have hangings get the bamboo cur
tains, which allow the lightest breeze or
the stoutest six footer to 90 through
them.
Many housekeepers believe in strip
ping the windows during the summer as
bare as picked fowl, but this detracts
from the cool effect. A good way to fix
windows for the summer is to hang plain
dotted or embroidered swiss curtains from
slender brass poles and then draw them
back so they merely drape the castings
A window without curtains looks rs hot
as a man without n collar. A window
with such curtain is rs fresh and invl-
ting in appearance as 4 woman in new
white gown.
Then if you really wish to have every
thing cool to the eye and TO the touch,
make white covers for all the raw silk
and plush covered furniture, which, how
ever luxuriously grateful during the
winter, is but feather bed unto the flesh
in the dog days. There is sort of white
satteen, imported by tailors' tape manu-
facturers, which is beautiful for the pur-
pose, and its lustrous polished surface is
delightful to the touch. A lady has
made covers for her private sitting room
chairs of this stuff, which are pronounced
by all her friends as "too dainty and
sweet for any use" But they are equal
to vast amount of use and washing.
The covers were not scwed into one
piece and bound with braid rs IL usually
done, but each plain surface had its own
piece bounded on its four sides by an inch
wide hem. Then eyeet holes were punch
ed and left unworkcd, because the cloth
is so firm it will not fray and the pieces
were laced together with rather large
white cords finished off by little white
pear shaped "bobs" The lower edges
were pinked. Such covers were laced
over the wire sofa cushions, 50 as to show
a broad band Of the inner covering Of
mignOnette green satin.
A pretty idea which was suggested for
the covers was TO paint sprays Of Virgin
ia creeper and clematis upon them, but
it was not carried out, as it would have
prevented them from being laundered.
What a pity it is that nobody has inven-
ted way for "fring" painting in cloth.
Then if you wish to play the part Of
benefcent cooling angel, forget not the
cup of cold water, whose offering is Il
blessing, and whether or not you offer it,
keep the cooler where it will be easily ac-
cessble to the chance caller and the home
circle. A refreshing detail carried out in
one home at least is TO keep a great punch
bowl filed with cracked ice in corner
Of the hall, and the air seems AZ different
on entering that house as it does when
YOU strike a stretch OF sprinkled street.
Finally, you must remember to close
your windows and darken your rooms at
9 o'clock in the morning and keep them